Is SEO still important now that AI-powered search is growing?

Absolutely. Traditional SEO remains the foundation of online visibility. AI assistants still rely heavily on information published on well-managed, authoritative websites. Rather than replacing SEO, AI search builds upon it by placing greater emphasis on expertise, trust, reputation and the quality of your content.

Why do AI assistants recommend some organisations but not others?

Although AI systems use different methods, they generally look for evidence that an organisation is knowledgeable, trustworthy and recognised within its field. Helpful content, strong reviews, mentions from respected third parties, consistent information across the web and technical website quality all appear to contribute to whether an organisation is recommended.

Should organisations stop focusing on Google and optimise only for AI?

No. Google remains one of the world's most important sources of website traffic, and traditional search continues to play a vital role for most organisations. The most effective approach is to build on established SEO best practice while also considering how AI systems discover, interpret and recommend information.

What practical steps can organisations take to improve their visibility in AI search?

Start with the fundamentals. Publish genuinely useful content that answers real questions, demonstrate your expertise, encourage detailed customer reviews, maintain accurate information across the web, keep your website technically well maintained and continue building your organisation's reputation within your sector. These activities support both traditional search and AI-powered search.

Web Design and Development News in York

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From rankings to recommendations: Why SEO needs to evolve for the age of AI search

At a glance AI is changing search from rankings to recommendations. People increasingly ask AI systems for answers rather than choosing from a list of links. Traditional SEO still matters, but ranking highly may no longer be enough on its …

by Jim Semlyen 11 Aug 2026

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Castlegate’s technical insights hub

Practical case studies from our work managing complex websites. Every website presents its own technical challenges, and solving them well requires more than theory. This section shares the real problems we encounter, the investigations we carry out, and the solutions …

by Jim Semlyen 10 Aug 2026

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10 practical cybersecurity improvements small organisations can make this week

At a glance Use MFA wherever possible, especially for email, administrator accounts and sensitive systems. Avoid shared accounts and give people only the access they need. Protect your email domain with correctly configured SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Encrypt devices and …

by Jim Semlyen 1 Aug 2026

GEO, AEO, LLMO: Making sense of AI search’s alphabet soup

At a glance AI search has created a new collection of acronyms, including GEO, AEO and LLMO. They describe broadly similar ideas: making content easier for AI systems to find, understand and use in answers. AEO focuses on answers, GEO …

by Jim Semlyen 30 Jul 2026

Your staff are probably already using AI. Is your organisation ready?

At a glance Your staff are probably already using AI, whether or not your organisation has formally adopted it. AI can improve productivity, but it also creates risks around confidential information, accuracy, copyright and accountability. Blanket bans are rarely the …

by Jim Semlyen 29 Jul 2026

Preparing websites for AI search: a practical guide for modern organisations

At a glance AI search is changing how websites are discovered, with AI systems increasingly finding, interpreting and recommending information. Strong SEO foundations still matter, but content also needs to work well for AI systems. Clear structure helps AI understand …

by Jim Semlyen 10 Jul 2026

Is your website ready for AI search?

At a glance AI is changing how people find information, with tools such as ChatGPT and Google’s AI features increasingly answering questions directly. SEO still matters, but it’s no longer the whole picture. Websites also need to be understandable to …

by Jim Semlyen 9 Jul 2026

Cookie compliance and consent management

At a glance A cookie banner alone does not make a website compliant. The technologies behind it must respect the visitor’s choices. Non-essential cookies and similar tracking technologies generally require consent before they operate, particularly analytics, advertising and conversion tracking. …

by Jim Semlyen 8 Jun 2026

Websites for industry, retail, and public sector blog article

Websites for industry, retail and public sector organisations

Organisations working in industry, retail, and the public sector often manage large, technical, or highly variable datasets, whether that’s machinery specifications, product catalogues, or live operational information. Turning that complexity into something customers, partners, or members of the public can …

by Sunny Simmons 4 May 2026

Is your contact form losing you enquiries?

Most business websites have a contact form. Far fewer have a good one. It is easy to treat the contact form as a small detail to deal with shortly before a website goes live. In reality, it is often one …

by Sunny Simmons 1 May 2026

Web Design and Development News in York

Latest posts

From rankings to recommendations: Why SEO needs to evolve for the age of AI search

Castlegate’s technical insights hub

10 practical cybersecurity improvements small organisations can make this week

GEO, AEO, LLMO: Making sense of AI search’s alphabet soup

Your staff are probably already using AI. Is your organisation ready?

Preparing websites for AI search: a practical guide for modern organisations

Is your website ready for AI search?

Cookie compliance and consent management

Websites for industry, retail and public sector organisations

Is your contact form losing you enquiries?

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